Teenagers that sleep less more likely to take part in dangerous anti-social behaviour, new research reveals.
The study, published by Flinders University, found that sleeplessness among students can lead to dangerous behaviours like smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol and drugs, unprotected sex, driving dangerously on our roads and acts of violence.
Adolescents need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night, and over 570,000 teenagers who took part in 24 previous sleep related studies around the world showcased the negative consequences of falling short of recommended sleeping times.
Lead author, Dr Michelle Short, said the in-depth analysis reviewed the association between sleep duration and risk taking in those studies, highlighting the direct link with risk taking behaviours.
“The results of our analysis indicate a meaningful relationship between sleep duration and risk-taking in adolescents,” Dr Short said.
“If sleep loss results in more risky decisions, it can begin a self-perpetuating cycle with poor sleep leading to poor decision making about future sleep and so on.”
The results suggest governments, schools and educational campaigns can change their approach towards minimizing risky behaviour by suggesting teens get more rest, according to the research.
“If future research can garner stronger evidence that sleep plays a role in risk taking then intervention campaigns promoting road safety, drug and alcohol use, will profit from targeting sleep as a means of harm minimisation or reduction,” Dr Short said.
“However, both risk-taking and sleep duration are likely also impacted by third variables, such as family environment, or a lack of limits which are normally set by parents.”
Previous research suggests not getting enough sleep during adolescence may make people more prone to emotional and behavioural disorders.
In one previous study included in this set of data, lack of sleep caused adolescents to shift their focus from worrying about potential losses, towards seeking more rewards at any cost.
“The importance of sleep should be highlighted in future education campaigns because there is potential for simple interventions to have wide ranging benefits,” Dr Short said.